STAND. COM. REP. NO. 408
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.B. No. 1304
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1304, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to establish a temporary Healthcare Task Force (Task Force) to:
(1) Develop a plan for implementing healthcare for all the residents of Hawaii; and
(2) Report its findings and recommended legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006.
The bill also appropriates $250,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2005-2006 for the operational expenses of the Task Force.
Testimony in support of this bill was received from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, ILWU Local 142, and several concerned individuals. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and Kaiser Permanente supported the intent of the bill.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not have a comprehensive health plan to implement healthcare for all the State's residents. Your Committee notes that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain or afford healthcare and healthcare coverage. Hawaii has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of uninsured in five years, and that the number of residents in Hawaii that are uninsured or underinsured continues to grow.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1304, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
____________________________ KENNETH HIRAKI, Chair |
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